Alligator Blood reinstated as Magic Millions Guineas winner
Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) had been sensationally reinstated as the winner of the 2020 R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner after a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court.
The son of All Too Hard was disqualified after he returned a positive post-race swab following his victory on the Gold Coast and his then trainer David Vandyke was fined $20,000.
This landmark decision, which was broken by Racenet on Friday, is a huge win for Alligator Blood‘s former owner Allan Endresz, as Racing Queensland and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) have also been ordered by the court to pay legal application costs.
“It is declared that the disqualification by the first respondent (QRIC) … of the horse Alligator Blood from his first-placing in Race 6 of the Gold Coast Magic Millions meeting held on 11 January 11, 2020 is void and has no effect,” Supreme Court Justice Burns said in his ruling.
Endresz launched Supreme Court action arguing he and the ownership team were never handed the opportunity to be heard by stewards before the disqualification of Alligator Blood.
The court found in Endresz's favour, saying he and other owners had not been given any opportunity to be heard by stewards.
This is a landmark ruling given it has not yet been made clear the next steps in terms of the prizemoney given to Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock).
Vale Colin Jillings
Revered thoroughbred trainer Colin Jillings has died in Auckland, aged 91.
Jillings, who retired from training in 2005, had a lengthy and hugely successful career in racing, initially as a jockey and then as a trainer.
Jillings was riding trackwork at Ellerslie as a 10-year-old and had his first race ride at 12. A fractured skull, suffered in a trackwork fall, sidelined him for 11 months but he still recorded his first win as a 13-year-old, when a pupil at St Peters College.
Watch: Colin Jillings - Racing Hall of Fame
Before he got too big for race riding, Jillings was the leading northern apprentice in the 1945/46 season and won the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie and finished third in an G1 Auckland Cup before his riding career ended.
His wins as a trainer included G1 Wellington Derby and further Classic wins in the G1 New Zealand Oaks (2), New Zealand 2000 Guineas, New Zealand 1000 Guineas, while he also saddled winners of the G1 Thorndon Mile (2) and G1 Telegraph H.
However, his crowning achievement came when he saddled The Phantom Chance (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}) to win the 1993 edition of the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Daysee Doom's son wins trial
A pair of 2-year-olds from the Annabel Neasham stable landed trials at Warwick Farm on Friday, including the first foal out of G1 Coolmore Classic winner Daysee Doom (Domesday).
Named Fameux and by Darley’s stalwart stallion Exceed And Excel, the colt smoothly cruised to an impressive 1.23l over Ravenclaw (Harry Angel {Ire}), clocking a time of 49.23s, while Scorpion Jack (Impending) finished third.
Fameux | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Meanwhile, his stablemate, Desert Safari (Pride Of Dubai), won heat five, stopping the clock at 48.21s in his 813-metre trial where he finished 0.7l ahead of Autunno (The Autumn Sun).
The Pride Of Dubai was purchased by Neasham, Brian McGuire and TFI for $160,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Rubick filly lands trial
The Bjorn Baker-trained Desperately (Rubick) won the first juvenile heat of the morning at Warwick Farm.
The Darby Racing-owned daughter of Rubick was mustered along in the straight by Rachel King and responded well to her urges, eventually galloping 1.21l ahead of Kalimba (Snitzel). The winner's time for the trial was 48.50s.
Desperately was bought by Darby Racing for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year and next month Glenlogan Park will offer her Castelvecchio half-brother at the 2023 edition of the sale. The colt is catalogued as Lot 806.
Storm The Ramparts shines in gallop
Storm The Ramparts (Headwater) produced the quickest 2-year-old time of the morning at Warwick Farm when he covered the 813 metres in a time of 48.16s.
Trained by Mark Newnham, the son of Vinery Stud-based Headwater finished well to beat Jamakin Money (Press Statement) by 0.19l.
Storm The Ramparts as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
An $85,000 buy her his trainer at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the colt’s Cosmic Force half-brother will be offered by Valiant Stud as Lot 5 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in February.
Hayes impressed General Lamarque
Lindsay Park’s General Lamarque (Shalaa {Ire}) produced an eye-catching jump-out on Friday at Werribee and the performance impressed co-trainer Ben Hayes.
“First time away from home to have a jump-out against opposition horses, I couldn’t be happier with the way he went,” Hayes said. “Being a first jump-out, we didn’t want to knock him around, but he looked to do it naturally and won the trial quite nicely, which is very pleasing when you see a 2-year-old come out and do that.
“At home, he had shown us similar ability so hopefully he can take that nice, natural improvement again.”
Hayes said the colt would be aimed at some major prizes in the autumn, including the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Levante warms up
Co-trainer Ken Kelso is over the moon with Levante (NZ) (Proisir) ahead of her tilt at the G1 Railway S. at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day.
Levante prepared for the Group 1 with a dashing second to Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) with a trial at Matamata on Friday.
“It was a nice trial. She flew the gates. I was very, very happy,” Kelso said afterwards.
Levante (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“I was delighted with the way she went to the line. She hasn't raced since Melbourne and that trial will bring her on immensely. She'll get real benefit from that and that should have us pretty much bang on target for the Railway.”
Meanwhile, at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, Kelo’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) tackles the G2 Eight Carat Classic and fellow 3-year-old filly Divici Belle (Not A Single Doubt) will take her chance in the G3 Uncle Remus S.
Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards open for nominations
The annual Godolphin Stud and stable staff awards are now open for nominations.
The awards are spread across seven categories and aimed to recognise the hardwork and dedication of the staff at studs and stables across Australia.
The stud and stable staff awards were first launched in 2015 and are supported by a range of sponsors, including Godolphin, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Inglis and Magic Millions, with nominations for next year’s categories now open.
